I'm looking for a special tailor's chalk, let me describe it because the technical term for it escapes me:

It is two plastic caps that resemble a little seam ripper. In one of the caps is a pin, in the other the "female" end that the pin fits into. In the caps is chalk where the pin meets the plastic and also on the female side. The idea is that you can mark where you need to take in seams while fitting someone without actually pinning up the side seams- you just pinch the fabric together and stick the pin through it and catch the pin in the female end on the backside. When you pull the contraption apart, you are left with a little chalk mark on the fabric front and back as to where the seam adjustment should be made, rather than having to leave pins from armpit to waist on the poor person you are fitting and have them spill blood trying to remove the garment.

Thanks to anyone who can assist with this- I am primarily making dresses for 8 year-olds these days and would rather not prick anybody (or be sued).

and yes I'm still sewing despite my lack of blogging for 2 years. I miss you ladies and gents. -- Edited on 3/27/14 7:01 PM --

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2008 - lost track in October at about 150
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I know the "thingy" your referring too.
I used to have one, but used it for marking dots on pattern pieces ie darts. Like you I haven't seen them for ages but if my memory serves me right they were either made by Dritz or Clover.
Unfortunately here in the UK were not able to get sewing stuff like you can in the states and have lost count of the amount of things bought never to been seen again.
If you do find out anywhere they are still sold would love to know as it was a brilliant little gadget

This is probably it, but I don't think I have seen anything like that for a very long time.

Just even by the artwork on package and fonts and such, that may have been more in the 1970's-80's even, I'm not sure.

But I don't think chalk goes bad at all, so if you even find an old one someplace, the chalk is probably still good.

Someone had that one up on etsy at one point, and I found it by just google/images, but the real one is I think long gone on that, and photo just held in a sever someplace now, as I don't real easy see it there anymore either.
-- Edited on 3/27/14 7:57 PM -- -- Edited on 3/27/14 7:58 PM --

What Beauturbo posted is currently available on ebay. It's called a "Tailor Tacker with a Pattern Perforator." Here's the ebay link. It's only up for auction for 1 more day! (Hope that helps--I'm not familiar with this tool, but I really like doing online searches for hard-to-find things )

Yes I have one of those as well and when I found a few packs in a fabric store a few years ago I made sure I purchased them all as I hadn't seen them for a while a that time. I use these all the time for any tailors tacks, works perfectly!

OK, I'll go totally off the reservation here, but have you tried marking with Crayola Washable fine-line markers? They make a fine line but still wash out.
From my experience, 8-yr-olds will actually like it if you write on their clothes...or skin, but I suppose you should test on your own skin first to make sure it comes off!
I mark first with a pin through more than one layer, then use the marker to mark alongside the pin and take the pin out. -- Edited on 3/28/14 0:58 AM --

------Measure twice, cut once. While this saying is useful in many ways, I have no qualms about editing my posts.

Big Goal for 2015: to be able to say "Oh, I guess it's time to take this dress in...again!"

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